TRACK CYCLING PRESS

Elite Men’s 4000-metre Individual Pursuit winner Steven van Heerden (VWE Track Academy) improved on his qualifying time to become the new National Champion on day one of the 2016 South African Track and Para-cycling Championships at the Westbourne Oval in Port Elizabeth on Monday 28 April. Photo credit: Darren Goddard

Team Telkom's Morne van Niekerk closed the gap on Steven van Heerden (VWE Track Academy) in the Elite Men's 4000-metre Individual Pursuit but it wasn't enough on day one of the 2016 South African Track and Para-cycling Championships at the Westbourne Oval in Port Elizabeth on Monday 28 April. Photo credit: Darren Goddard

Bernette Beyers (Energas) pips Maroesjka Matthee (BestMed ASG) to the post in the Elite Women's Sprint Final Heats 1 and 2 on day one of the 2016 South African Track and Para-cycling Championships at the Westbourne Oval in Port Elizabeth on Monday 28 April. Photo credit: Darren Goddard

Charlene du Preez (Clover Prestigio) was ecstatic to take the vistory in the Elite Women's 3000-metre Individual Pursuit on day one of the 2016 South African Track and Para-cycling Championships at the Westbourne Oval in Port Elizabeth on Monday 28 April. Photo credit: Darren Goddard

Jason Oosthuizen won the Junior Men's 3000-metre Individual Pursuit in 3:44.81 on day one of the 2016 South African Track and Para-cycling Championships at the Westbourne Oval in Port Elizabeth on Monday 28 April. Photo credit: Darren Goddard

The “Windy City” had nothing on the Track Cycling stars who appeared to cut through threatening headwinds on the first day of the 2016 South African Track and Para-cycling Championships at the Westbourne Oval in Port Elizabeth on Monday 28 April.

Winner of the Elite Women’s 3000-metre Individual Pursuit (IP) was Team Clover Prestigio’s Charlene du Preez. “Because it’s only a 500-metre course, we had to do six laps. There was quite a headwind on the back straight, so after the first lap I felt a bit like jelly. I decided to sit a bit back for the next lap, and then it felt a bit better. I then got to halfway and used the process of counting down the laps, which seemed to work,” she said.

As a newcomer to track cycling, Du Preez was hoping for a favourable result, but not expecting what she got. “I knew that the Western Cape girls were all really good, and in my head I was hoping for at least a second place. So I didn’t expect to win at all. I am really, really happy. I had worked so hard for two months and it all paid off,” she said.

“I’m fairly new to the discipline, I only got my first track bike at the end of January, so I’ve been focusing purely one the Pursuit – it’s what I came here to do well in,” she said.

Elite Men’s 4000-metre IP winner, Steven van Heerden (VWE Track Academy), was determine to better his qualifier and go on to become the new National Champion. In the qualification round, Van Heerden posted a 4:57.12, the second fastest time with Morne van Niekerk (Team Telkom) riding a 4:53.40.

“I know I have my work cut out for me if I want to beat Morne in the final,” said van Heerden. “Morne is known to start the pursuit off slower and pick it up towards the end. The first half of the race I was ahead of Morne, he closed the gap and it became a tight race from there on, with the start of the last lap Morne was ahead and I managed to pull it back with half a lap to go, beating him by less than a second at the end,” he added.

Next up for Van Heerden is the Team Pursuit, Points race and Omnium events.

In terms of 2016 season goals, Van Heerden said: “I've got my eyes set on a few road races as well as the Track Grand Prix and Engen Crit Series.”

Van Heerden thanked many friends and followers on social media for the support, and expressed how happy he was to take the National Championship title. He also mentioned the incredible support from the crowds at the event.

The 2016 SA National Track, Para-cycling and Omnium Championships take place at the Westbourne Cycling Track in Port Elizabeth from Monday 28 March to Sunday 3 April, with the SA Track and Para-cycling Championships running from Monday 28 March to Friday 1 April and the SA Omnium Championships running from Saturday 2 to Sunday 3 April. For more information about the event, click here: http://www.cyclingsa.com/2016-sa-track-champs/ or contact info@ectrackcycling.co.za.

Cycling South Africa

Cycling South Africa is the governing body of cycling in South Africa and is a member of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). It is affiliated to the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) as well as the Department of Sport & Recreation. Cycling South Africa regulates the five major disciplines within the sport, both amateur and professional, which include: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking, BMX Biking, Track Cycling and Para-Cycling. Cycling South Africa’s “2020 Vision” strategy, to cater for both the elite cyclist as well as the everyday two- and three-wheel lovers, contributes to the organisation being a dynamic, successful and highly respected governing body of cycling, at both National and International level. Cycling South Africa is committed to transformation and development of the sport and making it accessible to all via its development programmes.